Latch



(ModeL) F. J. LEE. 7:,

LATCH. No. 250,551. Patented Dec. 6,1881.

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UNITED STATES FREDERICK J. LEE, OF OSWEGO, KANSAS.

LATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,551, dated December 6, 1881.

Application filed September 7,1881. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. LEE, of Oswego, in the county of Labette and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Latches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective door-latch which can be applied to right or left doors and locked from the insideof the door, as hereinafter described, and illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the outside of the device; Fig. 2, a similar view of the inner side; and Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are details of parts of the same. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the escutcheon'plate and handle.

The letter A indicates the frame of a doorway, and B an ordinary door, which can either be provided with panels or with a wire-gauze body stretched upon a suitable frame.

0 indicates a metal handle, which is secured to the door and formed with a plate or escutcheon, c, at one end.

The thumb-latch D, which passes through an opening in the door and a vertical slot, 0, in the escutcheon-plate, comprises a straight body, cl, a catch, d, at one end, andathumbpiece, 01 at its remaining end, the said thumbpiece being con-aved on opposite sides, so as to adapt it to be readily grasped under all circumstances. The latch is provided with pivots E on opposite sides, and the escutcheon-plate is formed with channels 6 at the sides-of its slot, for receiving the pivots of the latch, thus admitting of a free vibratory movement of the latter. The escutcheonplate is also recessed on its inner face, so as to receive a notched washerplate, which is held between the escutcheon-plate and the door. This washer plate closes allot the opening made through the door, excepting so much as will be necessary for the movement of the latch, and it also forms part of the bearings for the pivots, thus preventing the same from wearing into the door and working tooloosely. The latch is bent near its catch end, as at 01 whereby the opening through the door can be made farther from the edge of the same than it could ifthe latch were perfectly straight. The catch end of the latch has the double inclines d whereby the latch can be applied to a right or left opening door. At the end of its catch end is a short arm, F, bent at about right angles to the latch, said arm being constructed so that the latch can be readilyraised from the inside of the door. The latch passes through a slotted plate, G, secured to the inner face of the door, and this plate is formed with a socket for a sliding key or bolt, H, which can be passed over the latch, so as to lock the same down. This keyhas a handle, h, at one end, and itis also provided with acamprojection, h, near its opposite end, said camprojection being arranged to bear upon the latch when the latter is down, and the key is turned by depressing its handle. The plate G has two notches, g g, at one side of the keysocket, and the key has a stud, k adapted to fit into the same. Hence by sliding and then turning the key its stud can be brought into one of said notches, whereby the key can be prevented from sliding, either after it has been passed over the latch or after it has been drawn back.

An ordinary stud, i, or equivalent device, will be secured to the door-frame, for engaging the latch. which, as the door is closed, will strike and ride over the stud until its incline has passed the same, after which the latch will drop and engage the stud.

What I claim is 1. The pivoted thumb-latch D, comprising the straight body (I, the double-inclined catch d, the thumb-piece d and the pivots E, in combination with the handle 0, having bearings e e and slotted plate 0, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the pivotedlatch, of the sliding and turning key H, having 'the cam -projection It and a stud, k and the slotted plate G, formed with a socket for the key, and with notches g for receiving the said stud, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination, with the slotted es- In testimony thatI claim they foregoing as cutcheon-plate having bearings for the latchmyvown I afiix my signature in presence of two pivots, 0f the thumb-latch D, comprising a witnesses. straight body, 01, a thumb-.piece, d and a FREDERICK J. LEE. 5 double-inclined catch, (1, the said latch being Witnesses:

formed .with the bend d and with the bent WM. HoUoK, arm F, substantially as described. J. A. GATES. 

